WATZ Today's Country

Tuesday News Summary 09-27-22
Tue, 27 Sep 2022 08:37:41 EDT

(Stories Courtesy of Michigan News Radio)

MSP PUNCH VIDEO
Police video obtained by MLive shows a Michigan State Police Trooper punching a handcuffed man in the face as he refuses orders to sit inside the squad car during a traffic stop in Saginaw. Trooper Bram Schroeder has been charged with misconduct in office and aggravated assault in connection with the incident in March. Another trooper and two Saginaw police officers are also facing charges. The Saginaw Police Bodycam and squad car video shows motorist Vance Martin fall to his knees following the punch, saying he can't breath out of his nose. Schroeder later punches him twice more in the face. Police in Saginaw have defended the officers, saying they followed protocol and used de-escalation techniques before the punch.

DEATH THREAT
The Campaign of Dr. Bob Lorinser, a candidate for US Congress in Michigan's 1st District, says Lorinser was sent a death threat. The campaign says they received a text message reply on September 22 to an event invitation in Elk Rapids. The sender said they were going to assassinate Lorinser during the event the moment he exits his vehicle. The Lorinser campaign says it has reported the threat to local law enforcement and the FBI and that an investigation is underway.

RESERVE DEPUTY PASSES AWAY
The Lake County Sheriffs Office has announced the death of Reserve Deputy Joe Smith. Deputy Smith had been in the hospital after being badly injured in an accident in August. He worked in Lake County for five years, serving as both a sergeant in the sheriffs office reserve division, as well as a security deputy at the Lake County Court House.

CANADA TRAVEL
It's about to get a lot easier to travel to Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has confirmed that the government will finally end its mandatory vaccination requirement. Travelers will no longer be required to fill out the unpopular ArriveCanAPP, nor undergo testing or quarantine requirements. The health minister says it's all thanks to the number of people who rolled up their sleeves to get vaccinated. The news is music to the ears of companies with cross border trade and truckers. It all starts on Saturday.

SEX CRIME CHARGES
A man from Mio man is facing multiple sex crimes charges. The Michigan State Police Alpena Post were first contacted in August 2021 by the medical coordinator from the Northern Michigan Child Advocacy Center to investigate an alleged sexual assault. 82- year-old Richard Bernard Walser was identified as the suspect. Walser was arraigned in Oscoda County earlier this year for several counts of criminal sexual and home invasion regarding this case. Troopers say a second victim has now come forward and another investigation was launched. Walser was subsequently arrested at his home on September 22 and is now lodged at the Oscoda County Jail.

LEVIN OFFICE UNIONIZES
The staff members on Michigan Congressman Andy Levin have voted to unionize. The eight staff members voted to join the Congressional Workers Union. In a tweet, officials said it will become the FIRST congressional office union in the history of the U.S. Congress. However, Levin only has three months left in his term after losing the primary election to Representative Haley Stevens. There are union votes pending in several additional Congressional offices.

COLLEGE FAIR
College shopping is made easy at the Mott Community College 38th Annual Regional College Fair Thursday, October 13, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Ballenger Field House on the main campus in Flint. Representatives from more than 50 colleges and universities from Michigan, as well as out-of-state, will be on hand to discuss admission requirements, programs of study, financial options and student life on their campuses. Prospective students are encouraged to visit the online registration.

WALMART THIEF
A man from Alpena was arrested after Michigan State Police said he managed to steal $16-hundred dollars in items from the Walmart on M-32 back in late June. Troopers believe 39-year-old Michael Jackson is the person seen on store security footage removing barcodes from less expensive items and placing them on higher priced products. Troopers said they sent a report to the Alpena County Prosecutors office after interviewing Jackson. Jackson turned himself in at the Alpena County Jail on August 23. Jackson was arraigned for one count First Degree Retail Fraud.

GRANT FUNDING
Bay Mills Indian Community will receive more than $2 million in grant funding from the Justice Department. Funding will go to three programs, including the healing to wellness court, tribal victim services, and the journey to healing program. The funding was announced last week and will help cover and improve the three programs through 2025.

DELAWARE MINE DIVE
In the western U-P, divers explored the Delaware Mine in Mohawk on Saturday, the first dive since 2013. The mine closed in 1887 and divers reportedly took more pictures and artifacts for the mine's museum. Diver John Janzen tells W-L-U-C that the wood, the structures, stairways and railings are just as they were many years ago when the mine closed. He says it's like a time capsule, that it looks beautiful, just like it was when it was in service.

OTTAWA COUNTY UNEMPLOYMENT
The preliminary unemployment rates for August 2022 were recently released by the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget. Ottawa Countys unemployment rate for August measured 3.1%. This rate is the fourth lowest in Michigan for August, with unemployment rates ranging from 2.4% in Livingston County to 8.2% in Oscoda County. From July to August, seventy-seven counties saw their unemployment rates decrease. Since August 2021, jobless rates have decreased for seventy-eight of Michigans eighty-three counties.

TROOPER SHOT-DETROIT
A Michigan State Police trooper has been shot early this morning on Detroit's west side. State Police say the trooper was part of an undercover drug unit conducting surveillance on Riverview Street, near I-96 and Telegraph when shots were fired. The trooper was taken to the hospital and is being evaluated. People are asked to avoid the area because the suspect is still on the loose.

SHOOTING NEAR WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
There was an accidental shooting near Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo on Monday. WMU Public Safety says in a tweet that it happened on South Howard Street when someone accidentally shot themself. Police say there was no threat, but the shooting is being investigated.

GOTION PLANT-BIG RAPIDS
A battery parts plant in the Big Rapids area has received unanimous approval from three government boards for a 30-year property tax exemption. Monday's votes followed a meeting during which Chinese-owned Gotion Inc., and local interest groups described plans and expressed support for what they called a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The proposal now moves on to the Michigan Strategic Fund. Gotion says it plans to invest about $2.4 billion in the facility which would employ more than 23-hundred workers.

BODY FOUND IN LAKE NEAR STATE BORDER WITH INDIANA
A body has been found in Lake Michigan near the border of Michigan and Indiana. The body of a man in his 30's was found in Michiana in southwest Michigan on Monday afternoon. An autopsy is scheduled.

MATTHEWS SUSPECT ARRAIGNED
A 55-year-old man, Arthur Williamson, has been arraigned for the murder of WWJ anchor and MNN reporter Jim Matthews. Matthews girlfriend and two children were also injured in the attack. Court filings say Williamson was released from supervised parole this past January. He had spent time on-and-off in prison for the past 30 years on drug, assault, kidnapping, breaking and entering and assaulting a police officer charges.

CHURCH RELICS
An exhibit that includes more than 160 saints' relics is coming to a Macomb County church. Leaders at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Utica say the Sacred Relics of the Saints: The Treasures of the Church exhibition will be set up today and available for viewing by the public at 6:30 this evening. The relics on display include a piece of wood from the cross Jesus died on, and a piece of the veil worn by the Blessed Virgin Mary.

RED CROSS MI HEADED TO FLORIDA
A dozen Red Cross volunteers from Michigan are traveling to Florida as Hurricane Ian takes aim. Officials say they are pre-positioning the staff and supplies before the storm hits. Officials say the Red Cross feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters as well as supplying about 40% of the nation's blood. More volunteers could also head to the state if needed.

NMU STUDENT FOUND DEAD
A missing 18-year-old freshman at Northern Michigan University has been found dead inside his vehicle in the Upper Peninsula. Virgil Mongozid was reportedly found dead on US-41 near the entrance of Baraga County Memorial Hospital on Sunday. It not been determined how he died. Mongozid had been missing since September 22nd. Counselors will be available at Northern Michigan University.

ARRESTS IN DRIVE-BY SHOOTING -BATTLE CREEK
In Battle Creek, two teens have been formally charged in connection with a drive-by shooting that left a two-year-old boy dead. 18-year-old Martavon Nelson and 16-yearold Jaylen Smith are both charged with murder in the death of Kai Turner. Police say the little boy was shot shortly before 2:30 last Tuesday morning (Sept. 20) on Cliff Street in the area of Highway and Mott streets. Both Nelson and Smith are being held in jail without bond. A third teen has been implicated, but has not yet been charged.

CAR FIRES -GRANDVILLE
Several cars caught on fire outside a Meijer in Grandville , southwest of Grand Rapids on Monday afternoon. Police say they're investigating what led up to the fires, but no one was in the vehicles at the time.

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT DISPLAY-HENRY FORD MUSEUM
If you like ornaments - and Christmas - you're in luck this year in Dearborn. The Henry Ford Museum is hosting a display of 7-thousand ornaments that date back nearly 50 years. The card company began making the ornaments in 1973. Officials at the Henry Ford say the display will allow Christmas lovers to re-live favorite memories and events, as well as inspiring this year's decorating. The Hallmark exhibit opens with a members-only preview on November 19th. It opens to the public on the 20th.